A tragic plane crash that claimed the life of a North-West Tasmanian woman may have been avoided if a windsock had been installed on the airstrip.
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That was the view of Coroner Simon Cooper who released his findings into the Tomahawk crash on Thursday.
The victim, Sandra Southwell, was killed when her Cessna 182 crashed while attempting to land on a friend's property in 2018.
Her partner, Barry Bransden, was flying the plane, and both were experienced pilots.
Mr Bransden told investigators that both he and Ms Southwell had looked for a windsock - used as a guide for wind direction and speed - when they tried to land on the property.
It was the first time he had flown to the property, and Ms Southwell had only flown there once, about seven years prior.
But the airstrip had no windsock, and no facilities other than a hangar.
The farmer, who was at the hangar, noticed they were struggling and drove onto the airstrip with his headlights flashing to warn them not to land.
"Unfortunately, rather than recognising [the farmer] was attempting to warn against landing from the east, Mr Bransden interpreted his actions as a message to line up with his headlights," Mr Cooper said.
"Accordingly, he continued with his landing."
Tragedy followed.
The plane bounced on the airstrip and then hit a tree.
Describing the crash to investigators, Mr Bransden said as they hit the tree "there was a lot of noise, the engine was at full revs".
"There was a noise when the tree was hit by the plane," he said
The farmer and his own partner helped Mr Bransden out of the plane, before pulling Ms Southwell from the wreckage.
She was breathing, but unconscious.
Two volunteer firefighters were first on the scene and their efforts to save Ms Southwell were commended by the coroner.
Ms Southwell was then taken by ambulance to meet the rescue helicopter, but sadly, she died.
"I think it's fair to conclude that if a windsock had been present Mr Bransden and Ms Southwell would have seen quite clearly the direction of the wind and not attempted to land in the direction they ultimately chose," Mr Cooper said.
"It is time for the regulatory body to give serious consideration to amending the relevant Civil Aviation Regulation to ensure all airstrips are fitted with windsocks and that the windsocks, once installed, are appropriately maintained."
While Mr Cooper acknowledged this would create a financial cost for the owners of private airstrips in Tasmania, he said it would be "modest".
"By far the greatest beneficiaries will be the owners of the private airstrips - who are the most regular users in most cases of their own airstrips.
"The widest possible use of windsocks can only enhance aviation safety - an unarguably positive outcome for the community as a whole," he said.
"By far the greatest beneficiaries will be the owners of the private airstrips - who are the most regular users in most cases of their own airstrips."
CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said it was "too early" to comment on the recommendation.
"The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has a process for reviewing and analysing coronial reports and recommendations, and we will be following that process, but it is too early to make any further judgments or comments at this point in time," he said.